Hockey: UNB's Henderson signs with San Jose

"Kevin will be a great addition to our organization and we are looking forward to continuing his development as a professional hockey player. He’s someone who can play in all situations and we commend the job that UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall and his staff have done."

The national champion Varsity Reds will have to replace two-thirds of their top line, since Jimmy Cuddihy completed his eligibility.

Incidentally, for anyone ever in need of a university hockey fix, check out UNBHockeyFans.com.

18 comments:

I should add that this is UNB's third player in three years to sign an NHL or AHL entry-level contract. Rob Hennigar signed last season with the Islanders, and is with their AHL team in Bridgeport in the playoffs. Two years ago Daryl Boyce signed with the Toronto Marlies, who are now in a playoff run. Boyce got called up one game for the Leafs two years ago, and got hurt for the rest of the season.

Netminder Michael Ouzas graduated in two years (!!!) after last season, signing an AHL contract with the Marlies, although he got sent down to the ECHL. Denny Johnston who also graduated last year, with a 3.9-4.0 GPA, played some games in the AHL this season with Mancheser before getting injured.

Congrats to Henderson. Part of the best team in the nation last season with out question. That's what happens when a university decides to pump the majority of their athletic resources into a single sport - you attract premier players who have the shot at making the jump to the next level.

Henderson is a fine player, the type of CIS guy that arrogant NHL organizations overlook.The fact that one of the best franchises in the NHL picks him up is an interesting one isn't?UNB has an excellent program, but I am still trying to figure out how the heck they were able to dump women's hockey AND pump more into men's...especially in these economic times

UNB has prioritized on six sports: men's and women's basketball; men's and women's volleyball; men's hockey and women's swimming. The other sports are at club status, including women's hockey. That hasn't stopped men's wrestler Vince Cormier winning a gold medal this year at Nationals. or the baseball team winning two national championships.

The AD is on record that football would be welcomed back at UNB if it is an independently funded team, like Laval's program. So it is up to the alumni and corporate community. There is no money in the budget for football, let alone that several sports last year, including women's hockey, were demoted to club status due to budget cuts across campus.

Unlike Ontario, universities in the Maritimes are dealing with declining enrollments as the population ages and young families head west. Add in provincial government cutbacks, and now the financial mess with the markets and schools have little money to spare for sports. Fortunately for UNB the gate revenue from the hockey team is basically funding the bulk of all varsity sport costs ... it helps when you average 2500 fans per game, and sellouts in the playoffs.

Women's hockey was the most expensive net sport at UNB before demotion: similar costs to the men for buses, hotel rooms, meals, ice time, equipment, etc. and zero revenue (they dropped the game price to free and they still only average maybe 225 fans a game).

That is a good point in re: the cost of a women's program relative to the lack of revenue.

It comes down to what percentage of the team is educational (i.e., the student-athlete part) and what part is business and entertainment (selling tickets, etc.). The former would say that you have to offer a team for both genders and the latter might be more bottom line-minded. One bit of understanding is that for women, given the lack of professional leagues and in some cases to play recreationally in adulthood, university is the best time to play a competitive sport.

Kilfoil would defend UNB's decision if they decided to kill women hockey players. It makes no difference to him that the spirit of university sport has been betrayed by UNB. As other teams attempt to add women's hockey, UNB deletes it. Show me the money Squirrels.

I've said this before STUTommie ... when is STU going to have eight varsity teams playing at the CIS level? How about STU spends the money to build their own sports facilities instead of complaining about the ones they rent around the city to use, including UNB's? I just wish you would move beyone the UNB women hockey issue as it apparently colours eveything you believe about UNB.